Guitar tone · rock, blues

The White Stripes guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 14 The White Stripes songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: 1964 Airline Res-O-Glas into Silvertone 1484 'Twin Twelve'.

Guitars The White Stripes used

1964 Airline Res-O-Glas7 songs
Early-1960s Kay K6533 archtop hollowbody2 songs
1950s Kay K6533 archtop hollowbody1 song
Early-'60s Kay K6533 archtop hollowbody1 song
1964 Harmony Rocket H591 song
1960s Kay K6533 archtop hollowbody1 song
1930s Kay Archtop Acoustic1 song
1964 JB Hutto Res-O-Glass Airline1 song

Amps The White Stripes used

Silvertone 1484 'Twin Twelve'1 song
1960s Silvertone 14851 song
Mid-'60s Sears Silvertone 1485 (head + 6x10 cab with Jensen C10Q ceramic speakers)1 song
Silvertone 1485 6x10 combo1 song
Mid-1960s Sears Silvertone 1485 (6x10 cab)1 song
Fender Twin Reverb (blackface, mid-1960s)1 song
1960s Silvertone 1485 (6x10 combo, vintage tube amp)1 song
Fender Twin Reverb (live version, as per typical Jack White live rig for this era)1 song

18 The White Stripes tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
Seven Nation Army · riff	Riff · distorted	Early-'60s Kay K6533 archtop hollowbody	Mid-'60s Sears Silvertone 1485 (head + 6x10 cab with Jensen C10Q ceramic speakers)	6.5
You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do as You're Told) · riff	Riff · distorted	1960s Kay K6533 archtop hollowbody	Mid-1960s Sears Silvertone 1485 tube head with 6x10 Silvertone speaker cab	6
Ball and Biscuit · riff	Riff · distorted	1964 JB Hutto Res-O-Glass Airline	Silvertone 1485 tube head with 6x10 Silvertone speaker cab	6.5
Seven Nation Army · solo	Solo · distorted	Early-1960s Kay K6533 archtop hollowbody	Mid-1960s Sears Silvertone 1485 head with 6x10 Jensen C10Q ceramic speakers	7
Apple Blossom · riff	Riff · distorted	1964 Harmony Rocket H59	Silvertone 1485 6x10 combo	5.5
Blue Orchid · riff	Riff · distorted	1964 Airline Res-O-Glas	Fender Twin Reverb (blackface, mid-1960s)	7.5
Blue Orchid (Live) · riff	Riff · distorted	1964 Airline Res-O-Glas	Fender Twin Reverb (live version, as per typical Jack White live rig for this era)	7.5
Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground · riff	Riff · distorted	1964 Airline Res-O-Glas	1960s Silvertone 1485	7
Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground · riff	Riff · clean	1964 Airline Res-O-Glas	1960s Silvertone 1485 (6x10 combo, vintage tube amp)	0
Fell In Love With a Girl · riff	Riff · distorted	1960s Airline JB Hutto Res-O-Glas	Sears Silvertone 1485	7
Hello Operator · riff	Riff · distorted	1960s Kay Hollowbody	Sears Silvertone 1485 Six Ten	6
Icky Thump · riff	Riff · distorted	1964 Airline Res-O-Glas	Fender Twin Reverb (Silverface, late 60s/early 70s, studio recording)	7
Jolene · riff	Riff · distorted	1964 Airline Res-O-Glas	1960s Silvertone 1485 (6x10 combo)	7
Jolene · riff	Riff · clean	1964 Airline Res-O-Glas	1960s Silvertone 1485 (6x10 combo, tube amp)	0
Seven Nation Army · riff	Riff · clean	Early-1960s Kay K6533 archtop hollowbody	Mid-1960s Sears Silvertone 1485 (6x10 cab)	0
Stop Breaking Down (Live at BBC Maida Vale) · riff	Riff · distorted	1950s Kay K6533 archtop hollowbody	Silvertone 1484 'Twin Twelve'	6.5
We're Going to Be Friends · riff	Riff · clean	1930s Kay Archtop Acoustic	None (recorded direct, no amp used on studio recording)	0
You're Pretty Good Looking (For a Girl) · riff	Riff · distorted	1960s Airline Res-O-Glas (JB Hutto model, red)	Fender Twin Reverb (likely Silverface, late 60s/early 70s)	6

The White Stripes songs on popular amps

Exact settings ToneAdapt players use for these songs on their own amps.

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Frequently asked questions

What amp did The White Stripes use?

Across 14 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Silvertone 1484 'Twin Twelve' (1 song), 1960s Silvertone 1485 (1 song), Mid-'60s Sears Silvertone 1485 (head + 6x10 cab with Jensen C10Q ceramic speakers) (1 song), Silvertone 1485 6x10 combo (1 song).

What guitar did The White Stripes use?

Most often: 1964 Airline Res-O-Glas (7 songs), Early-1960s Kay K6533 archtop hollowbody (2 songs), 1950s Kay K6533 archtop hollowbody (1 song), Early-'60s Kay K6533 archtop hollowbody (1 song).

How do I get The White Stripes's tone on my amp?

Open any The White Stripes song below to see the original gear and settings, then use ToneAdapt to adapt them to your own guitar, amp, pickups and pedals.